Alabama's southwest zone gun deer season enters 10-day closed period

View full sizeAlabama's southwest zone gun deer season will be closed for 10 days beginning Monday and running through Dec. 12 to accommodate the zone's 10-day deer-hunting extension into February 2014. (Courtesy ADCNR)

Just a reminder for deer hunters in Alabama's new southwest zone that the gun season's first split officially ended as daylight hours expired Sunday evening.

The 10-day closure now in effect runs Monday through Dec. 11 and also applies to running deer with dogs.

The closure was approved this spring by the state Conservation Advisory Board to make up for the 10 extra days the southwest part of the state will get to hunt into February 2014.

Eliminating 10 days in this zone keeps season length within the new zone the same as it is in the rest of the state.

The extension was granted to give hunters in the southwest greater opportunity to hunt the region's later breeding season. Biologists also suggested that the extension would not be detrimental to overall herd health.

The gun season reopens Dec. 12 and runs through Feb. 10, 2014. Dog-deer season ends January 15, 2014.

View full sizeThis was the proposed February hunting area map that was ultimately approved by Alabama's Conservation Advisory Board. (Courtesy ADCNR)

Southwest zone bow hunters, who also saw their season open 10 days later in October to make up for the February extension, are not affected by the closure and can continue heading afield to hunt deer with archery gear.